Chicago seems to have a lot of burlesque shows around town. For example, there is a Doctor Who burlesque called “Don’t Blink”:
“Eleven actors have played the title role on Doctor Who over the years–a fact the creators of the long-running British sci-fi television series acknowledge with a plot device called “regeneration.” Quirks like that make it risky to stage a parody of the show, since they can render things difficult for the uninitiated. But the friend I brought with me to see this Gorilla Tango burlesque knew nothing about the series and still laughed at all the jokes–particularly the ones having to do with regeneration. Busty Warren’s smart writing, the cast members’ comically awful Brit accents, and a judicious use of bawdry make Don’t Blink a success–though Kay Smiles’s amateurish choreography grows tiresome towards the end.”
There is an Indiana Jones show called “Temple of Boobs” (what else):
“Where’s the sleaze? Sure, cast members strip in this Geek Girls Burlesque parody of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but they’re so good-humored, goofy, and, yes, geeky, about it that it doesn’t always register as sexy, let alone dirty. There’s little to make a man want to slip in unnoticed and scrunch down low in his seat. Still, fun compensates for the lack of depravity. Though the stripping routines can get repetitive (turn away, unbuckle bra, turn back with breasts coyly covered), they’re always energetic—even dancerly. All of the leads have great stage presence and some acting chops. And “Sadie Hotkins” is an unmitigated knockout as Indiana Jones. Which is a problem, when you think about it. As much as I appreciated Hotkins’s looks, I couldn’t help but notice that she occupies the top rung of an anatomical hierarchy where traditional beauty equals virtue. And on the bottom rung? Well, the comic villain is played by a fat girl.”
A Star Wars burlesque called “A Nude Hope”:
“Answering the prayers of nerdy straight guys everywhere, this Geek Girl Burlesque show features a bunch of scantily clad women reenacting the first Star Wars movie. The only character who isn’t played by a woman, R2-D2, is represented by a trash can. M.C. Curran’s script closely follows the plot of the original except that the action frequently pauses so cast members can strip down to pasties and panties. Even Chewbacca gets a turn. In the spirit of Minsky’s, Timothy Bambara’s staging is more suggestive than raunchy and as concerned with laughs and novelty as with titillation. It also offers the rare chance to see Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi perform a posthumous striptease to the Bee Gees’ “I Started a Joke.”
And a Batman burlesque called “Holy Bouncing Boobies”:
“Holy bi-curious moment, Batman!” says the Boy Wonder in this entertaining superhero burlesque from Gorilla Tango Theatre. Clothes are shed early and often as our hero(in)es deal out double entendres along with bams and pows in their battles against the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, and other villains. Marie Curieosity is full of silly self-importance and unbridled libido as the Caped Crusader, and Crystal Paradise makes a campy Robin. In fact, the whole cast show sexy confidence and solid comedic timing, creating a Gotham City that’s a lot more fun than Christopher Nolan’s. If you found The Dark Knight Rises too violent, you’ll prefer the fight scene here in which Robin gives the Riddler a titty twister and gets motorboated in return.”
There’s more (including a Super Mario parody) but you get the idea. The reviews all come from our “alternative” free (Marxist) weekly, The Chicago Reader. I have to admit, Gorilla Tango Theater seems like a crazy place…
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Jeffrey S. June 28, 2013 at 5:42 pm
Chicago seems to have a lot of burlesque shows around town. For example, there is a Doctor Who burlesque called “Don’t Blink”:
“Eleven actors have played the title role on Doctor Who over the years–a fact the creators of the long-running British sci-fi television series acknowledge with a plot device called “regeneration.” Quirks like that make it risky to stage a parody of the show, since they can render things difficult for the uninitiated. But the friend I brought with me to see this Gorilla Tango burlesque knew nothing about the series and still laughed at all the jokes–particularly the ones having to do with regeneration. Busty Warren’s smart writing, the cast members’ comically awful Brit accents, and a judicious use of bawdry make Don’t Blink a success–though Kay Smiles’s amateurish choreography grows tiresome towards the end.”
There is an Indiana Jones show called “Temple of Boobs” (what else):
“Where’s the sleaze? Sure, cast members strip in this Geek Girls Burlesque parody of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, but they’re so good-humored, goofy, and, yes, geeky, about it that it doesn’t always register as sexy, let alone dirty. There’s little to make a man want to slip in unnoticed and scrunch down low in his seat. Still, fun compensates for the lack of depravity. Though the stripping routines can get repetitive (turn away, unbuckle bra, turn back with breasts coyly covered), they’re always energetic—even dancerly. All of the leads have great stage presence and some acting chops. And “Sadie Hotkins” is an unmitigated knockout as Indiana Jones. Which is a problem, when you think about it. As much as I appreciated Hotkins’s looks, I couldn’t help but notice that she occupies the top rung of an anatomical hierarchy where traditional beauty equals virtue. And on the bottom rung? Well, the comic villain is played by a fat girl.”
A Star Wars burlesque called “A Nude Hope”:
“Answering the prayers of nerdy straight guys everywhere, this Geek Girl Burlesque show features a bunch of scantily clad women reenacting the first Star Wars movie. The only character who isn’t played by a woman, R2-D2, is represented by a trash can. M.C. Curran’s script closely follows the plot of the original except that the action frequently pauses so cast members can strip down to pasties and panties. Even Chewbacca gets a turn. In the spirit of Minsky’s, Timothy Bambara’s staging is more suggestive than raunchy and as concerned with laughs and novelty as with titillation. It also offers the rare chance to see Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi perform a posthumous striptease to the Bee Gees’ “I Started a Joke.”
And a Batman burlesque called “Holy Bouncing Boobies”:
“Holy bi-curious moment, Batman!” says the Boy Wonder in this entertaining superhero burlesque from Gorilla Tango Theatre. Clothes are shed early and often as our hero(in)es deal out double entendres along with bams and pows in their battles against the Joker, the Riddler, the Penguin, and other villains. Marie Curieosity is full of silly self-importance and unbridled libido as the Caped Crusader, and Crystal Paradise makes a campy Robin. In fact, the whole cast show sexy confidence and solid comedic timing, creating a Gotham City that’s a lot more fun than Christopher Nolan’s. If you found The Dark Knight Rises too violent, you’ll prefer the fight scene here in which Robin gives the Riddler a titty twister and gets motorboated in return.”
There’s more (including a Super Mario parody) but you get the idea. The reviews all come from our “alternative” free (Marxist) weekly, The Chicago Reader. I have to admit, Gorilla Tango Theater seems like a crazy place…